Improvement in reversible curtain-fixtures



F. E. WAGNER. Reversible Curtain Fixture.

No. 197,234. Patented Nov. 20,1877.

U ITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

. FREDRIGK E. WAGNER, OF BUFFALO, NEW YORK.

IMPROVEMENT I'N REVERSIBLE CURTAIN-FIXTURES.

.Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 197,234, dated November 20, 1877; application filed I May 17, 1877.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, FREDRIcK E. WAGNER, of Bufialo, in the county of Erie and State of New York, have invented certain new and use.- ful Improvements on a Reversible Curtain- Fixture; and I, do hereby declare that the following description of my said invention, taken in connection with the accompanying sheet of drawings, forms a full, clear, and exact specification, which will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same,

My present invention relates to improvements on that class of curtain-fixturesinwhich the curtain-cord operates a pawl to disengage the roller, and it consists in the arrangement of parts and details of construction, as hereinafter first fully described, and then pointed out in the claims, whereby the fixture is rendered reversiblethat is to say, adapted to be used as either a right or left fixture.

In the drawings heretofore mentioned, Figure 1 is a plan of my improved curtain-fixture. Fig. 2 is an end view of the same with parts removed, and the lever and pawl in section. Figs. 3 and 4 are perspective views of the brackets. Fig. 5 is a rear, and Fig. 6 a front, elevation of the lever and pawl.

Like letters of referenceindicate corresponding parts in all the figures.

A is the curtain-roller, provided with the usual pivots A revolving in the brackets B C, respectively. Bothends of this roller have guard-flanges, represented, at D E, the latter of which is provided with a ratchet-wheel, F, cast in one piece with the flange E, and secured to the pivot A, which serves at the same time as a spool, a flange, G, acting, in conjunction with the ratchet-wheel I*, as guards for the curtain-cord I. The ratchet-wheel F.

engages with the lever H, having the pawls or prongs h h and pivoted to the bracket 0. The bracket B is provided with an oblong box-like proj ectingpart, forming two semicircularbearings, b b, the front wall of which has an excision, b, for the introduction of the rollerpivot through said excision. It is further provided in' its base B with two slot-holes, a a, and in its body with two apertures, a a, by means of which it can be secured to either the face or the side of the window-casing. By

thus constructing the rear bracket I am enabled to use the same on either side of the window, the roller-pivot always resting in the lower half of the bearings b. The front bracket 0 has a solid box, 0, and it is provided with base-slots a and body-apertures a, the same as the bracket B. It is further provided with a projectingpivot, 0, whose center coincides with a line drawn at right angles to the base through the eye 0, so that its position relative to that of the eye 0 will be the same whether it is used as a right or a left bracket. Upon the pivot G is slid the lever H, having two projecting pawls or prongs, h h. The head of this lever has two semicircular bearings, h h, which bearings form, in conjunction with the semicircular bridge '6, a circular aperture for the passage of the pivot G. lhave constructed the bearing part of this lever in the manner described to enable me to dispense with drilling of the pivot-passage, the parts h, h', and i being, in fact, a circular opening, and at once cast with the lever H. This lever, being symmetrical, can be used on either side, that one of its projections h h nearest to the ratchet-wheel F engaging therewith, while the opposite one passes between the flange G and bracket C, so that, when in a position the reverse of the one illustrated in the drawings, pawl h will engage with the ratchet instead of h, as shown.

To enable me to use the same ratchet-wheel on either or both sides of the roller, I have produced its teeth f by providing its periphery with excisions of more than a half circle, with the sides of which the pawl engages. This arrangement makes the points of the teeth f wider, and thereby presents to the prong a better bearingsurface and since both sides of the excisions are alike, either side may be brought in contact with said prong, and hence the wheel may be used in either a right or left position. The lower extremity of the shank K of said lever H is provided with aheel, L, to give preponderance of weight to the said lower end. Below the said heel is formed an eye, k, through which the cord I passes. N is the usual curtain.

It will be observed that the pawl H is simply slid upon the pivot C, but it is prevented from moving away from its proper position by the flange E, which is made so large in diameter as to interfere with a lateral movement of said pawl.

All the metallic parts entering into the construction of my curtain-fixture are so designed that they are ready for putting up as soon as cast, they requiring no fitting, drilling, riveting, or other mechanical manipulation whatever, save that usually bestowed upon this class of manufacture for improvingthe appearance, such as dipping, galvanizing, varnishing, bronzing, painting, Ste. My curtain-fixture can, therefore, be manufactured at any foundry, and sold at less cost than any other similarly-operating fixture now in the market, and it has, as heretofore explained, the additional advantage of being reversible or used on either side of a window, which dispenses with the vexatious trouble of matching the fixtures.

The operation of my curtain-fixture is identical with that of other similar fixtures, and so well understood that I do not deem it neces saryto enter into a detailed description thereof.

Having thus fully described my invention, I desire to secure to me by Letters Patent of the United States 1. The combination, with the bracket B, having the double bearings b b and the excision b', as stated, of the bracket 0, provided with the bearing 0, and the pivot 0', located as described, both brackets being produced entire in the process of casting, substantially as hereinbefore set forth, for the object specified.

2. The lever H, having the two pawls h h, as described.

3. The lever H, having the two pawls h h.

heel L, and eye k, as stated.

4. The lever H, constructed with two semicircular bearings, h h, and the semicircular bridge i, as stated, for the object set forth.

5. A ratchet-wheel for curtain-fixtures composed of the flange E, having the projection F, of less diameter than said flange, and provided with a series of circular depressions, f, of more than a semicircle, whereby the points f of the teeth are left wider than their body, substantially as described, for the object stated.

6. A reversible curtain-fixture, composed of the roller A, bracket B, with the double bearings b, bracket 0, with the pivot C, located as described, ratchet-wheel F, with the projectin g flange F, and the lever H, having the pawls h h, the whole constructed and arranged subtantially as hereinbefore set forth and described, for the object stated.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention, I have hereto set my hand and affixed my seal in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

FREDRIGK E. WAGNER. [L. s.

Attest:

MICHAEL J. STARK, CHARLES BURGARD. 

